EU 'disturbed' by Azerbaijan's anti-gay raids
Baku confirms it arrested gay people and forced them to do medical tests, as EU seeks "clarifications" on events.
Only five countries are helping gay Chechens leave Russia
EU leaders were vocal in their criticism of the anti-gay campaign that took place in the Russian republic of Chechnya earlier this year. But only a few countries are willing to offer a refuge to the victims.
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News in Brief
- Juncker tells Kurz to form 'pro-European' government
- EU Commission says May dinner not only about Brexit
- Madrid gives new deadline to Catalan leader
- EU calls for immediate end to Myanmar violence
- EU 'not considering alternatives' to Iran deal
- Second chance for Schulz as SPD wins Lower Saxony
- UK businesses' Brexit worries ease slightly
Malta legalises same-sex marriage
Once regarded as conservative, the catholic island of 440,000 becomes the latest EU country to allow same sex couples to marry.
Interview
Gay rights face backlash in Poland
Polish society is becoming more gay-friendly, but anti-gay activists are becoming more radical and the government is doing little to stop it, says gay right activist Agata Chaber.
Political games behind Germany's gay marriage vote
Gay marriage was adopted in a snap vote at the German parliament on Friday. But lesbians and gays acquired this right after German chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sabotage the electoral campaigns of her opponents.
Handful of bids for EU agencies mention gay rights
Austria's bid to host the European Medicines Agency mentions Vienna's 'thriving and diverse LGBTIQ community', but its bid to host the banking agency does not.
Analysis
Hard days ahead for Serbia's gay PM
The nomination of Brnabic as Serbia's first gay prime minister is linked to party politics and pinkwashing rather than civil rights.
Feature
Gay rights at heart of Poland's value conflict
Anti-gay statements are part of an anti-EU narrative propagated by Poland's ruling Law and Justice party. But only a few politicians from the opposition are willing to challenge the image of Poland as a homophobic country.
Stakeholder
LGBTI activists and businesses fighting inequality together
Multinational corporations can play an important role in creating a more inclusive society, through the workplace.
Gay, under-40 politican to rule Ireland
Leo Varadkar said his election as leader of the ruling part was an "unlikely story". He assured he would stick to the EU position in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
Lithuania helps gay Chechens flee Russia
Linas Linkevicius, foreign minister of Lithuania, said his country issued visas to two persecuted Chechens and that an international effort was underway to protect others.
Liberals denounce EU parliament's 'anti-gay' bill
Liberal MEPs say a parliamentary position on protecting children from immoral content on the Internet could be used to discriminate against gay people.
Most EU states drifted backward on gay rights
Intersex rights are the new boundary for toleration of sexual minorities in Europe, as EU institutions urged to show more "political courage" to stop hate.
Merkel and Putin fail to see eye-to-eye
German leader urged Putin to protect gay men in Chechnya, he said his police were better-behaved than some in Europe.
EP chief faces questions after homophobic 'summit'
Tajani was due to open a "summit" with anti-gay extremists in the EU parliament. He cancelled, but questions remain on why the event went ahead.
Malta to push for LGBTI rights in troubled times
Activists hope the EU presidency of Malta, a recent LGBTIQ champion, will help to put their rights higher on the EU agenda.
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Commission 'shockingly passive' on Lithuania gay rights
MEPs express outrage after the EU Commission takes no action against Lithuania over an anti-propaganda law that discriminates against gay people.
Opinion
LGBT rights at stake in Georgia election
The Georgian Dream party says it is pro-EU, but its demonisation of LGBT people for the sake of a few votes is a retrograde move on Georgia's European path.
Interview
Panti Bliss: EU lessons from the gay rights movement
"Personal activism" is worth more than politicians' talk, but a “meek” EU will never win public support, an Irish gay rights campaigner tells EUobserver.
Interview
Hate speech costs lives, EU warns
Hate speech, whether homophobic or islamophobic, can prompt violent crime, justice commissioner Vera Jourova has warned in the wake of the Orlando and Jo Cox killings.
Opinion
Pride 2016: Let's not turn back time
EU politicians should attend gay Pride marches to stop illiberal forces in the EU from turning back the clock on basic civil liberties, such as the freedom to assembly.
What sort of civil society does Europe want?
Governments must be willing to hear critical voices; otherwise their desire to have an NGO sector is only lip service.
Italy changes EU gay rights map
Decision to allow same-sex unions deleted last zone of anti-gay intolerance in western Europe. Lack of adoption rights left "bitter taste".
Homosexuality still seen as a disease in parts of EU
Most hospital staff in Bulgaria and Romania think gay people are mentally ill. A transgender woman was refused surgery by every hospital in Slovakia, a new study shows.
EU to sponsor gay rights boat, upsetting Hungary
The EU commission is going to sponsor a boat in Amsterdam Gay Pride for the first time ever. But Hungary has said that type of thing undermines its sovereignty.
Limited breakthrough for Italian gay rights
The Senate approved a bill recognising same-sex unions, but political manoeuvres led prime minister Matteo Renzi to scrap the green light for gay adoption.
Opinion
Dutch voters could derail gay rights in Ukraine
If Dutch voters stop the EU-Ukraine treaty in a referendum in April, they will help to stall the reform process. What will happen to Ukraine’s LGBT community?
Greece ends discrimination of gay people in civil union law
New law will allow gay citizens to enter into a civil union, which had been available to different-sex couples for several years.
Slovenia rejects gay marriage law
Almost two-thirds of people rejected a law on gay marriage in Slovenia’s referendum on Sunday, highlighting an east-west EU cultural divide.
Feature
No place for human rights in EU-Turkey visa talks
The EU has a formidable instrument to promote its values overseas: visa-free travel. It worked in Ukraine. But it’s not being used in Turkey.
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